Reviews

Record reviews

Elderblood – Messiah Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on May 25, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Osmose Productions, Reviews, Ukrainian Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 10 comments

“I used to live near a funny little Polish deli, and my mother would often buy meats from there because Poland seems to do quite well in that area, especially sausage. I don’t recall my experiences in that place very well (I was probably about ten the last time I was there), but it’s apparently common knowledge that you weren’t exactly treated wonderfully there unless you were obviously Polish. Sounds like a bit of a strange business strategy, but I suppose the free market can always use innovation, no matter how small or eccentric. Elderblood hails from Ukraine, but judging by how they sound on their second full-length Messiah, they could waltz right into that deli and get lavished with attention and sausages.” Raining Sausage!!

Behexen – The Poisonous Path Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 24, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Debemur Morti, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 14 comments

“Former AMG writer, Natalie Zed, described Behexen in her Nightside Emanations review as a second-wave black metal band. Nothing more, nothing less. And, in all honesty, that is exactly what they are. But, Behexen are not only innovators of the style, but are also damn good at it.” Innovation be damned.

Sektemtum – Panacea Review

By Mark Z. on May 24, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, French Metal, Hard Rock, Osmose Productions, Punk, Reviews, Black Metal, Hard Rock, Punk, 7 comments

“I’ll be honest: as a reviewer, I often don’t care how original a band is. Give me a thousand groups like Nails, who take a well-tread style and play it damn well, over any wacky group that artificially cobbles together disparate influences in vain pursuit of originality. To me innovation is something that should result from a band playing the music they love and want to hear, not an end goal in itself. And that’s exactly why I find Sektemtum’s sophomore LP Panacea so refreshing – not because it isn’t original, but because it seems to achieve originality without really trying that hard.” There is nothing new except what has been forgotten.

Death Angel – The Evil Divide Review

By Steel Druhm on May 23, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 65 comments

“It’s tough to avoid feeling one’s age when all the wild, crazy bands you listened to in your youth are approaching 30 year anniversaries. This is particularly true with Death Angel. I remember seeing them open for Overkill and Slayer back in 86 and they looked like little kids on stage. I was a kid myself but they really looked like little kids. 2016 sees them dropping their 8th album after three decades in the business and while they’re older, wiser and much more grizzled, you’d hardly know it from the razor-sharp thrash contained on The Evil Divide.” With age comes anger (and back hair).

In Mourning – Afterglow Review

By Madam X on May 23, 2016 in 2016, Agonia Records, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 41 comments

“Coming across In Mourning’s The Weight of Oceans was a great surprise. I knew nothing of the band, but the album art stole my breath away and for that reason alone, no matter what it sounded like, I needed to posses The Weight of Oceans. I grabbed the album and hit play, within seconds captivating waves washed over me, I was sold. Four years on, The Weight of Oceans still ranks as one of my most loved albums. Along comes Afterglow and I’m brimming with hope that it’ll be a solid continuation of its predecessor.” High expectations can be a frigid bitch.

Throane – Derrière-Nous, La Lumière Review

By Roquentin on May 21, 2016 in 2016, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Debemur Morti, French Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 16 comments

“Sora’s latest solo affair, the black-cum-experimental-metal outing Throane, appears as a clear extension of his earlier works and digital art. Drawing from influences of bands like Bluts Aus Nord, whom he works closely and often with, Throane’s debut Derriere-Nous, La Lumiere takes the atmospheres and minimalist ambience of Sora’s various other projects such as Treha Sektori and pushes them forward by providing a metallic edge.” The black arts on display.

Bedowyn – Blood of the Fall Review

By Saunders on May 20, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Via Nocturna, Progressive Metal, Sludge Metal, 19 comments

“For better and worse, sludge metal has branched out considerably beyond the abrasive and uncompromising early years of the genre, defined by the likes of The Melvins, Eyehategod, Grief, the underappreciated Iron Monkey and boundary busting legends Acid Bath,. Increased diversity and scene saturation has polluted the genre pool, leading to interesting yet inconsistent results and mixed feelings from yours truly.” Sludge is as sludge does.

Flotsam and Jetsam – Flotsam and Jetsam Review

By Al Kikuras on May 19, 2016 in 2016, AFM Records, American Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 34 comments

As a dumb 16 year-old I turned away from bands when the glass-shattering high notes that were a trademark of many vocalists went the way of the dinosaur, either by design or age inducing the testicles to drop. As a dumb 35 year-old, Alan Tecchio raved to me about Flotsam and Jetsam’s then new album, 2010’s The Cold. As one of my favorite metal vocalists (Hades, Non-Fiction), Alan’s word was bond, James Bond, so I picked it up. At first listen it made me turn my Fruit of the Looms into a fudge factory.” Enter the Age of Incontinence!

Mortillery – Shapeshifter Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 19, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 49 comments

“I would be a goddamned liar if I said I were a longtime fan of Canadian thrashers, Mortillery—and those who commented on last year’s Unleash the Archers review can contest to this. However, after diving deep into the band’s back catalog, I can wholeheartedly admit that, in a single week’s time, I am a diehard fan of this band. And for the first time in awhile, I will not be sent to the AMG basement for my poor taste in metal or forced outside to scrape the dead armadillo carcasses hanging from the grilles of the staff’s Prius’.” We’ve actually moved your desk down there.

The Order of Israfel – Red Robes Review

By Steel Druhm on May 18, 2016 in 2016, Doom Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Doom Metal, 23 comments

“The Order of Israfel’s 2014 debut Wisdom became a bit of a sleeper for yours truly. I gave it a positive review and saw the potential, but didn’t expect to return to it quite as much as I have. The combination of classic doom with tough biker rock proved hard to ignore and though it missed my year end lists, it’s become a regular part of my “free range” listening time.” Free Steel Druhm!